New music: Fleetwood Mac covers, Tame Impala

“Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac” is the second Fleetwood Mac covers record I’ve ever purchased (anybody else remember “Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours'”? Came out in the late 90s and featured Matchbox Twenty, Duncan Sheik, The Corrs, the Goo Goo Dolls and other bands you’d expect on a late 90s tribute record).

This new release, which came out this month, features tracks that span Fleetwood Mac’s career, and the artists are mostly indie: MGMT, Best Coast, Gardens & Villa, Karen Elson and the Crystal Ark.

Some of them are so incredibly perfect and spot-on, I couldn’t have wished for a better cover/artist match-up. See “Landslide,” performed by Antony of Antony & the Johnsons. His voice is incredible, and while he could easily oversing that song, he doesn’t. It’s simple and gorgeous and perfect.

Another gorgeous, simple cover is Lykke Li’s “Silver Springs.” She gives it an ethereal feel, making an already-beautiful song almost heavenly.

I’m a big fan of Best Coast, so I love their weird little take on “Rhiannon.” The song is so witchy and mysterious in the hands of Nicks and Co., but Best Coast turns it into a sunny, summery jam. Never thought I’d want to roller skate or skip to “Rhiannon,” until now.

Another band I love, The Kills, takes a Fleetwood Mac classic and flips it on its head. The Kills makes “Dreams” sound dirty, sleazy and grimy – ya know, like a really good Kills song. It’s awesome to hear.

I think it’s interesting, too, how each band makes the songs sound like they’re theirs, yet somehow you can always tell it’s a Fleetwood Mac song. Maybe it’s in the melody or lyrics or something, but it almost always feels like a Fleetwood Mac song being covered by (insert artist here).

That “Legacy” covers record now sounds laughingly SO NINETIES when you listen to it today, and this one will definitely sound SO 2010S in about 20 years. Know that going into this one.

Some covers are totally forgettable, some are awesome, some are just eh.

It’s a mixed bag, but not a bad one.

The only other new music I am totally amped about is “Elephant” by Tame Impala. This is the new single off the band’s upcoming record, “Lonerism,” out in October. Had I just heard how the band describes itself – as “psychedelic hypno-groove melodic rock music” – I would’ve never actually listened to it. But a friend turned me on to them by saying, “John Lennon is risen.”

Think of the Beatles during their “Strawberry Fields Forever” days – that’s Tame Impala.

I have yet to hear a bad song by this band; its first record, “Innerspeaker,” was one of my favorites a couple of years ago.

“Elephant” is so much fun to hear. If you like psychadelic rock even a little bit – remember! Beatles reference! – give this band a try. I cannot stop listening to this song right now.